Pause

Take a moment to still yourself. Take a deep breath and ask God for a renewed sense of presence with you in this moment.

Opening Prayer

E te Atua, God of the cycles and patterns of the universe and all living things whose ways we only begin to comprehend, open our hearts to the wonder of the natural world, to your incarnation throughout creation, and to your presence with and in us now. Amen.

FIRST READING

Wisdom 7:16-23

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Psalm 64 (65)
R: The seed that falls on good ground, will yield a fruitful harvest. 

A reading from the book of Job 9:2-10 (The Inclusive Bible)

How can we be justified before God?
If I were to argue with God, I couldn’t give a right answer once in a thousand times.
God is wise of heart and supremely powerful; who has challenged God and survived?
God moves mountains before they know what is happening,
and throws them down when angry;
the Almighty shakes the earth and moves if from place to place,
making its support columns tremble.
God commands and the sun doesn’t rise and the stars don’t shine their light.
God alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the seas.
God made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
God’s deeds are beyond understanding; God’s wonders are numberless. 

Matariki is a cluster of stars; Let the heavens be glad.
Matariki is a time of year; Let the earth rejoice, let the seas and all that is in them roar. 
Matariki is a time of remembering. Be still and know that I am God.
Matariki is a new beginning; let the fields and all that is in them exult. Let all the trees of the forests shout for joy.
Matariki is the eyes of God; O God, what variety you have created, arranging everything so wisely. The Earth is filled with your creativity.
Matariki is a time of seeing Both day and night belong to you; you made the starlight and the sun. You set the boundaries of the earth and you made both summer and winter. 
Matariki is a time of rejoicing All creatures depend on you to feed them at the proper time. Open your hand, they are well satisfied. 

The new light of Matariki has risen!
May it be to you a sign of resurrection and new life.
May it be to you a sign of hope in times of darkness.
May it be to you a sign of the wondrous mystery of Atua who loves you.
May it be to you a sign that the eyes of the Eternal One are ever upon you and that the presence of the Holy One is ever with you. And may this be the cause of your rejoicing.
Go in peace.
Through Christ and in the perfect unity of the Holy Spirit, we pray.

Amen